The number of people killed in a powerful explosion at a bar in a luxury ski resort in Switzerland has risen to 40, creating panic and shock in the area.
According to foreign media reports, Swiss police stated that a strong explosion occurred at a bar located within the luxury ski resort of Crans-Montana, after which a fire broke out inside the bar.
Swiss police officials told a foreign news agency that several people were killed and injured in the explosion; however, they did not initially disclose the exact number of casualties or the cause of the blast.
Later, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Swiss police reported approximately 40 fatalities in the bar explosion, while the Swiss police commissioner stated that nearly 100 people were injured due to the fire, with most of the injured reported to be in critical condition.
Swiss authorities said that some of the victims are foreign nationals, adding that the incident is not being treated as an attack and investigations are continuing from various angles.
Police officials further said that the explosion occurred at 1:30 a.m. between Wednesday and Thursday at the popular ski resort, at a time when a large number of people were present in the bar to celebrate New Year’s night.
